Dubuque woman gets 30 years for beating ex-husband to death

Updated 5:40 pm, Monday, May 14, 2018

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque woman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting she beat her ex-husband to death with a baseball bat.

The Telegraph Herald reports 64-year-old Dolores A. Flynn apologized in court Monday before she was sentenced, saying "If I could take it back, I would."

Judge Michael Shubatt sentenced her to the 30 years recommended in a plea deal. Shubatt noted, "no one deserves to be beaten to death with a baseball bat."

Flynn initially was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 72-year-old Gary Breckenridge on Jan. 4, 2016. She pleaded guilty last month to voluntary manslaughter, willful injury and assault.

Breckenridge died at the home he shared with Flynn.

Flynn says she wanted to apologize to the couple's children for her actions.